How to Tune a Mini Guitar

Written by sam orr

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Guitar necks come in different lengths, and require different techniques. (electric guitar image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com)

Tuning a guitar becomes second nature with practice, but at first getting the practice down can be frustratingly unsuccessful. Attempting to tune a smaller guitar, such as those meant for young children learning early, requires slightly different preparation than normal guitars. Additionally, shorter guitars have a different "physics" from normal-length guitars.

Skill level:

Moderately Easy

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Things you need

Miniguitar

Guitar tuner

Light strings with "wound 3rd string"

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Instructions

1

Remove your strings from your mini guitar. Since smaller guitars are a novelty and are not widely produced, there is a good chance that it is not made from the best hardware and that the bridge (where the strings attach near the hole in the middle of the body) is weak. Test it with your fingers to make sure it does not pop easily, since it will be holding several pounds of pressure from strings.

2

Change your strings so that you are using new, light strings with a wound G string. Both of these specifications will be marked on the packaging. Strings are changed by simply unwinding them, detaching them from their fixtures or pegs, and swapping new strings in their place.

Pull your strings outward by their middle distance between the nut and the bridge, usually around the 12th fret. Loosening them will keep them from changing tone while tuning other strings. If tuning is inconsistent, where some tune well and others seem off, strings probably need to be broken in.

Tips and warnings

Using a wound G-string will make the string thicker and harder to bend, but will keep the string from feeling too loose due to the short scale (short neck) of the guitar.